Now that he is a free man, one hopes George Speight will reveal the truth about the 2000 coup. He has maintained right from the beginning that he was not the real leader or instigator of the coup.
Those are the words of former Prime Minister and Fiji Labour Party Leader, Mahendra Chaudhry after the release of George Speight who led the 2000 invasion of Parliament to oust the democratically elected Chaudhry-led government.
Chaudhry says at the time of Speight’s sentencing in February 2002, he told the media that “… if the Police were honest with even the shoddy evidence on the table at the moment his case was called, he would be in very distinguished company on Nukulau not only in numbers but in names as well.”
The former Prime Minister says if George Speight is truly contrite about the violence and devastation his reckless actions unleashed on the nation, the least he can do in recompense is to disclose the truth about 2000.
Chaudhry says the 2000 coup unleashed months of anarchy and violence on the country, and Speight’s release has sent tremors of apprehension throughout the nation.
He says particularly concerned are Indo-Fijians who were the major target of the violence and mayhem instigated by Speight and his thugs.
Chaudhry says hundreds of innocent families in rural communities were traumatised, and driven from their homes and farms, victims of months of terror and violence.
The former Prime Minister says members of the Chaudhry government were kept hostage in Parliament at gunpoint for 56 days – constantly subjected to threats, humiliation and physical and mental torture by the rebel soldiers.
Chaudhry asks who is going to ensure justice to the innocent victims of Speight’s actions.
He says any moves to free those guilty of treason and such horrendous crimes against humanity, should have first been preceded by efforts to provide justice and a sense of reconciliation to the innocent victims of their actions.
The FLP Leader says treason is a serious crime carrying a mandatory life sentence.
Chaudhry says Speight’s release ahead of a Truth and Reconciliation process is disappointing as it has re-opened the outrage of 2000 without the healing that should have preceded it.
He says it has undermined the nation’s sense of justice and will have far reaching consequences on national unity and people’s confidence in the current government but he says it does not really come as a surprise.
Chaudhry says Speight’s release was foreshadowed by an election promise made by Sitiveni Rabuka at a rally in Nasinu just weeks before the 2022 general elections.
He says judging by the Rabuka government’s priorities since taking office, it was just a matter of time before Speight was set free following the earlier release of his co-conspirators Joe Nata and Timoci Silatolu, barely six months ago.
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